JOIN US“Twiplomacy” worked for England cricketer Kevin Pietersen on Monday, after he sought help from the Ministry of External Affairs to expedite the issuing of his visa for travelling to India.
“Trying to travel to India urgently & the Indian Embassy has had my passport for 10 days for a 24hr service. Help @MEAIndia, @IndianDiplomacy?(sic)” Pietersen posted on micro-blogging site Twitter, where he has more than 16 lakh followers.
“The event requires approval of the Sports Ministry. Mission will give visa promptly once organisers of the event obtain the necessary approval,” MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin initially wrote on the site in response to Pietersen.
But the Ministry of Sports later in the day gave the necessary approval, prompting Akbaruddin to return to Twitter: “Good news. Twiplomacy works!! Necessary clearance just received from Sports Ministry. Mission to grant visa soon. C u in India soon.(sic)”